It was straight into enemy territory on this one! As a lifelong Canucks fan going to Calgary Flames home turf (Saddledome) felt dirty. But the reward for doing so was worth it as I crossed another must see off of my bucket list.

I've seen a few shows at the Saddledome and must say out of all the stadiums I've been to the pitch on the seats at the Saddledome is the steepest. You do NOT want to fall down the stairs while going to your seat as you'll fall a long ways down them.

​Anyway - the show by RCHP was awesome. They started with a little jam and then went right into their hit "Can't Stop" and from there it was full out. Their stage was pretty basic but the most unique part of their show was the 10 000 LED lights, hanging by a strand, that would shift to different patterns. That was totally awesome.

Setlist:

Intro Jam

Can't Stop

Snow ((Hey Oh))

Scar Tissue

Dark Necessities

Dosed

I Wanna Be Your Dog (The Stooges cover)

Me & My Friends

Go Robot

Californication

What Is Soul? (Funkadelic cover)

Sick Love (Followed by a tease of "Road Trippin'")

Charlie

Dreams of a Samurai

Suck My Kiss

I Could Have Lied

By the Way

Encore:

Goodbye Angels

Give It Away

The BandSolid and really great. Josh Klinghoffer (the newest guy) really did the guitar parts justice and played well. The rest of the band are accomplished vets and make playing look easy.

The Crowd:I got to say that the Calgary crowd was awesome and a very mixed batch of ages. RHCP appeals to multiple generations for sure.

Audience Interaction & Engagement: A+Quality and Diversity of Music: A+Stage Presence of Band A+Energy from the Crowd: A+

Get the Led Out! If you want to see and experience the most AWESOME Led Zeppelin experience there is you HAVE TO see The Moby Dicks as I did in Las Vegas last January. What a show! And it was totally free.

This tribute to Led Zeppelin featured members of Whitesnake, Foreigner, Billy Idol, and Bonham. The show goes VERY deep into the Led Zeppelin catalog and is about three hours long.

They pretty well play almost every well known Led Zeppelin tune under the sun so I won't bother listing a setlist because it's just too long.

VIDEO: THE MOBY DICKS PERFORMING "BLACK DOG"

Vamp'd is off the strip by about 10 kilometres but SO worth it. Great crowd, zero egos, and a hell of a lot of fun.

The BandIncredible played all the songs to perfection. The only thing better would have been to have Led Zeppelin playing instead.

The Crowd:Down to earth crowd who were there for a good time. Even Vinnie Paul (Pantera) was there! Too bad for me as I had a bit too much kool-aid to realize it.

Audience Interaction & Engagement: A+Quality and Diversity of Music: A+Stage Presence of Band A+Energy from the Crowd: A+

My second go round seeing Alice Cooper! My first show was him opening for Motley Crue about three years ago. He didn't disappoint then and he didn't this time either.

I do believe his secret is surrounding him self with much younger, enthusiastic, players who really amp up the energy to his show. His band includes a pretty solid compliment of players that really bring his music justice.​

SETLIST:

The Black Widow

No More Mr. Nice Guy

Under My Wheels

Public Animal #9

Billion Dollar Babies

Long Way to Go

Is It My Body

The World Needs Guts

Woman of Mass Distraction

Guitar Solo (Nita Strauss)

Poison

Halo of Flies

Feed My Frankenstein

Cold Ethyl

Only Women Bleed

Guilty

Ballad of Dwight Fry

Killer (partial)

I Love the Dead

Under the Bed (Raise the Dead intro)

Pinball Wizard (The Who cover)

Suffragette City (David Bowie cover)

Ace of Spades (Motörhead cover)

I'm Eighteen

School's Out (with Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall")

Elected (with Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton characters)

My favourite part of the show was his tribute to fallen artists. It started with Pinball Wizard (The Who), then to Suffragette City (David Bowie), and ended with Ace of Spades (Motorhead) which featured his bass player Chuck Garric on vocals. He did a great job on them too!

The BandWas totally awesome again! Go and see Alice Cooper before it's too late. His stage show and presence are impeccable. The guy is pushing 70 years old and rocks harder than most bands half his age.

The Crowd:Great, high energy, rock crowd that loved the song medley to fallen musical heroes.

Audience Interaction & Engagement: A+Quality and Diversity of Music: A+Stage Presence of Band A+Energy from the Crowd: A+

Another one off the bucket list! This time it was the 80's Brit-Pop Rock superstars Duran Duran. I've always been a fan of Duran Duran they bring rock music to the masses with a bit of a fashion edge. They're one of them bands that is not afraid to take some risks in their music which is why they are so great.

Unfortunately, for this tour, due to a family emergency, one of the cornerstones of the band Nick Rhoades (keys) was absent and they had the very capable MDNR (Amanda Warner) fill in for him. She did a GREAT job however for me being a stickler for the originals it would have been nice to see Rhoades on the keys but then again Andy Taylor isn't in the band either so that throws my desire to see an all original Duran Duran out the window.

SETLIST:

Paper Gods

The Wild Boys

Hungry Like the Wolf

A View to a Kill

Come Undone

Last Night in the City

What Are the Chances?

Notorious

Pressure Off

Planet Earth (with Space Oddity by David Bowie snippet)

Ordinary World

I Don't Want Your Love

White Lines (Don't Don't Do It) (Grandmaster Flash & Melle Mel cover)

(Reach Up for the) Sunrise (with New Moon on Monday snippet)

The Reflex

Girls on Film

Encore:

Save a Prayer

Play Video

Rio

With the death of David Bowie still fresh Duran Duran paid a really nice tribute to him in their set with their song "Planet Earth". They also had a few political overtones regarding the US election too. Good on them for being them and not being afraid to show it.

The opening band Chic was really not an opener. The leader of that band, Niles Rodgers, is an absolute legend in the music scene. He brought a great band with him and put on a great show along with Duran Duran on their new song "Pressure Off" which is a new, very catchy song, from Duran Duran featuring Rodgers.

What can I say about Duran Duran??? These guys are really seasoned pros they developed their chops coming up through the club scene and are just great in concert. They know how to put on a GREAT show. And let me give a small shout out to their touring band who were FANTASTIC especially Dominic Brown (lead guitar) who is the guy that plays in place of Andy Taylor. What a great, solid, player who really actively engaged the audience.

With exception of the missing in action Nick Rhoades there was not much wrong with this show it hit all the right notes.

Video: "RIO"

The BandBoth bands (Chic & Duran Duran) were outstanding along with their supporting bands.

The Crowd:Excellent crowd filled mostly with fun loving soccer mom's there for a good time.

Audience Interaction & Engagement: A+Quality and Diversity of Music: A+Stage Presence of Band A+Energy from the Crowd: B

Notable Exceptions: Union of the Snake, A View to A Kill, Electric Barberella

This show was EASILY the biggest surprise and best show I saw in 2017. I primarily wanted to go to see his amazing guitar player Steve Stevens who is so underrated and so good but I came away from this show TOTALLY blown away by the whole experience

Billy Idol is a MONSTER for a guy his age (in his 60's) he still in peak condition and still puts on an INCREDIBLE show. His backing band was amazing and once again if you ever get a chance to see Steve Stevens live - GO!

SETLIST:

Shock to the System

Dancing With Myself(Generation X song)

Flesh for Fantasy

Scream

Can't Break Me Down

Pumping on Steel

Eyes Without a Face

Prodigal Son Blues

Acoustic Guitar Solo (by Steve Stevens with Led Zeppelin snippets)

Don't Need a Gun

Guitar Solo (Steve Stevens)

Blue Highway

Rebel Yell

Encore:

White Wedding (Half acoustic)

Mony Mony (Tommy James & the Shondells cover)

VIDEO: "SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM"

If you ever get your chance to see these guys perform do yourself a favour and go. You won't be disappointed. WHAT A SHOW and it easily was the best one I saw in 2016.

The BandExcellent! Steve Stevens (lead guitar) is the stand out in that band. The rest of the band were awesome in the supporting role and provided awesome backing vocals.

The Crowd:Awesome crowd! Great age range however mostly people over 40.

Audience Interaction & Engagement: A+Quality and Diversity of Music: A+Stage Presence of Band A+Energy from the Crowd: A+

One of the last remaining remnants from The Eagles is Don Henley. With the passing of Glen Frey earlier this year this show had kind of a somber meaning to me as I continue on my quest to see artists I love before it's too late.

Henley who is in his late 60's is a very unique musician. He was a session player for many famous artists before going on to form the hugely popular Eagles with Glen Frey. This was my first chance to see him outside of the Eagles and he didn't disappoint. He played a plethora of songs from other artists, his solo career, from the Eagles, and also a few from his very underappreciated "Cass County" album.

My favourite moment of the night is when Henley and his band played an OUTSTANDING version of Tears for Fears "Everybody Wants to Rule the World".

Setlist

Seven Bridges Road (Steve Young cover)

Dirty Laundry

That Old Flame

Sunset Grill

Words Can Break Your Heart

New York Minute

When I Stop Dreaming (The Louvin Brothers cover)

One of These Nights (Eagles song)

Bramble Rose (Tift Merritt cover)

It Don't Matter to the Sun (Garth Brooks cover)

The Last Resort (Eagles song)

I Don't Want to Hear Anymore (Eagles song)

The End of the Innocence

The Heart of the Matter

Everybody Wants to Rule the World (Tears for Fears cover)

The Boys of Summer

Life in the Fast Lane

Encore 1:

Train in the Distance

Hotel California

Encore 2:

Desperado

If you want to hear a real folky, soulful, album that showcases Henley's songwriting then I would highly recommend you check out Henley's album "Cass County". This album has flown under the radar and won't get radio airplay due to it not being trendy. It's a solid album of featuring appearances from: Miranda Lambert, Mick Jagger, Merle Haggard, Dolly Parton, and Marina McBride.

I will caution you that this is very much a country/folk album but give it a spin and open your mind up to new possibilities. Click the link below to hear a few samples from "Cass County".

The BandOutstanding! Very large backing band that provided great backing vocals and musicianship. Some of the band members played with Henley in the Eagles.

The Crowd:Great, good times, crowd that got into the show. Diverse age range too!

Audience Interaction & Engagement: A+Quality and Diversity of Music: A+Stage Presence of Band A+Energy from the Crowd: B

After collapsing shortly before this show we were left wondering if the show would even go on however it did go on and wasn't too bad.

It's was obvious that Meat Loaf could not hit his high notes anymore. Unlike my spouse I give him a LOT of leeway for getting up there at at close to 70 years old and being able to still perform. However, many people at the show were not as forgiving as me and expected a young, 1980's, version of Meat Loaf to show ignoring the fact that father time gets EVERYONE in the end.

SETLIST:

Runnin' for the Red Light (I Gotta Life)

Life Is a Lemon (And I Want My Money Back)

Blind Before I Stop

You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth (Hot Summer Night)

Dead Ringer for Love

Los Angeloser

The Giving Tree (Features Palome Instrumental Outro)

Out of the Frying Pan (And Into the Fire - Jim Steinman cover)

All Revved Up With No Place to Go

Paradise by the Dashboard Light

Bat Out of Hell

Encore:

Two Out of Three Ain't Bad

Hot Patootie - Bless My Soul (Richard O’Brien cover)

I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That)

Mercury Blues (K.C. Douglas cover)

Free Bird (Lynyrd Skynyrd cover)

All Revved Up With No Place to Go

I will say this... If it wasn't for Meat Loaf's FABULOUS backing band he would have been in big trouble as his vocals were definitely off. His backing band fantastically filled in the blanks and made it seem somewhat of a normal performance.

Couple that with the shock of Meat Loaf macking on his back up singer for one song to the shock of some in the crowd and it made for a somewhat entertaining evening! I am also happy that he made it through the show despite collapsing on the stage a few nights before.

VIDEO: MEAT LOAF COLLAPSES ON STAGE A WEEK BEFORE IN EDMONTON, AB

The BandGreat. They backed up Meatloaf very well in his time of need. Great players and vocals.

The Crowd:Decent crowd full of young and old alike. I do think they came expecting a young Meatloaf and didn't realize that he's almost 70 years old and the fact that he was able to get up there and perform after collapsing a week ago is incredible.

Audience Interaction & Engagement: C+Quality and Diversity of Music: CStage Presence of Band B+Energy from the Crowd: C+

Good old James Taylor is like a guilty pleasure that many people won't admit they like but when no one is looking they are in the corner wolfing his music down.

Although I like his music it may have been my first choice in shows. I'll admit going to this show was mostly for the Little Ms but I came away from the show really appreciated his contributions to the music world.

SET LIST

Wandering

Secret o' Life

Everyday - (Buddy Holly cover)

Walking Man

Today Today Today

The Frozen Man

Copperline

Carolina in My Mind

Up on the Roof - (Carole King cover)

Fire and Rain

Shed a Little Light

Encore 1:

SnowTime

You've Got a Friend - (Carole King cover)

The Promised Land -(Chuck Berry cover)

Shower the People

Angels of Fenway

Sweet Baby James

Steamroller

Mexico

Your Smiling Face

Encore 2:

Knock on Wood - (Eddie Floyd cover)

How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)- (Marvin Gaye cover)

Wild Mountain Thyme - (Francis McPeake cover)

Let me say this about James Taylor - what a nice guy! He was SO gracious to his audience and his band almost to a fault. I loved how he told the stories behind many of his songs and infused them with some humour. His voice is SILKY SMOOTH and a real pleasure to listen to.

​I was really pleasantly surprised by the show and the quality of it - even if I was on the younger side of the average age! For a guy that's sold over 100 million albums James Taylor still hasn't forgotten where he came from. Something for everyone to learn from including the many "flavour of the month" artists that permeate the music scene today.

The BandSongs done very well! Big props to James Taylor for treating his audience and band with so much respect and courtesy.

The Crowd:Laid back crowd so it's hard to give a high rating for energy but it was a GOOD crowd. Definitely on the older side. It sure felt nice to be one of the youngest people in the crowd. The crowd was very in tune with the show. This was not a rock show so it was very quiet in the stadium except for some of his bigger hits like "Fire and Rain".

Audience Interaction & Engagement: A+Quality and Diversity of Music: A+Stage Presence of Band AEnergy from the Crowd: B

Cross off another artist off my bucket list! It's been a lifelong dream of mine to get to see Billy Joel one day and I got to do it finally! If you follow Billy Joel you will know that it's rare that he ever tours in western North America so when I saw that he was coming to for a one off date in Seattle, Washington I had to go. Two things:

1. Billy Joel did not disappoint! 2. Safeco Field is absolutely stunning on clear night! What a show!

​His set list included most of his well known songs:

Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway)

Pressure (followed by 'Take Me Out to… more )

The Entertainer (dedicated to Donald Trump)

Vienna (audience choice over "Summer, Highland Falls")

Zanzibar

Movin' Out (Anthony's Song) (followed by 'Your Song' &… more )

The Longest Time (audience choice over 'An Innocent Man')

The Downeaster Alexa

Say Goodbye to Hollywood

New York State of Mind

Allentown

And So It Goes

Ode to Joy / My Life

Sometimes a Fantasy

She's Always a Woman

Don't Ask Me Why

Highway to Hell (AC/DC cover)

We Didn't Start the Fire

The River of Dreams (with 'Purple Haze' by The… more )

Scenes From an Italian Restaurant

Piano Man

Encore:

Uptown Girl

It's Still Rock and Roll to Me

Big Shot

You May Be Right

Only the Good Die Young

Joel's longtime band really put their all into the show and really were awesome. Billy Joel even had his roadie come out and sing their version of AC/DC's hit song "Back in Black"....

What can I say Billy Joel pretty well knocked the socks off the whole audience. The show was completely sold out and the audience, for the most part, was enjoying his disdain of Donald Trump via his song "The Entertainer".

The BandAll the songs done perfectly and loved the fact that Billy Joel stepped aside to allow his roadie sing a pretty good version of "Back in Black" with his band.

The Crowd:Excellent crowd and very friendly. Most of the crowd enjoyed the show on a very nice summer evening with the Safeco Field roof completely open.

Audience Interaction & Engagement: AQuality and Diversity of Music: A+Stage Presence of Band A+Energy from the Crowd: A+